Elizabeth M. Grieco Chief, Immigration Statistics Staff

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1 Data on International Migration and the Foreign-Born Population from the U.S. Census BureauElizabeth M. GriecoChief, Immigration Statistics StaffPopulation Division, U.S. Census BureauFinding and Using the Best Immigration Data Resources: A Seminar on Immigration StatisticsMigration Policy Institute and Population Reference BureauOctober 16, 2008

3 Things to Consider Before Looking for Data…What do you want to know?What data source, type of data would tell you what you want to know?Where can you find the data you want?3

4 Defining Terms: Immigrant, Foreign Born, and NativeImmigrant – Anyone admitted to the United States for lawful permanent residence as defined by the Immigration and Nationality ActLegal permanent residents (LPRs) include “new arrivals” and “adjustments of status”Foreign born – Anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birthThe foreign born include naturalized U.S. citizens, LPRs, temporary migrants, humanitarian migrants, people illegally present in the United StatesNOTE: The foreign-born population includes immigrants (LPRs).Native – Anyone who is a U.S. citizen at birth4

6 Defining Terms: Cautionary NotesU.S. definition of “foreign born” different from other countriesU.S. excludes those born abroad of at least one American citizen parent (“natives”) as foreign bornOther countries, e.g., Australia, include everyone born outside as foreign bornExercise caution if comparing with data from other countriesWhen analyzing microdata,watch who you include as foreign bornPlace of birth – the country where a person was bornCitizenship – the person’s citizenship statusPlace of birth alone will give you all persons born abroad, including citizens born abroad, so need to cross these variables for foreign-born population6

7 Defining Terms: Flow vs. Stock DataFlow data – The collection or summation of events during a certain period, such as a yearExamples: vital statistics (e.g., births, deaths), administrative or work load statistics (e.g., nonimmigrant admissions, naturalizations, refugee arrivals, visas issued)Stock data – The number of persons at a given dateExamples: survey and census data (e.g., population size by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, or place of birth)7

9 Stock Data: Uses and SourcesCan help answer: how many? what kind? where?TYPES OF DATA SOURCES:Censuses provide counts of the populationU.S. Census of the Population(e.g., Census 2000 Short Form/100% Data; Census 2010 Data)Surveys are statistical samples used to estimate the size and characteristics of the population(e.g., Census 2000 Long Form/Sample Data)American Community SurveyCurrent Population SurveyOthers9

10 Census Data on the Foreign Born: ExamplesFederally-funded, nationally-representative surveys arethe best sources of stock data on the foreign bornExamples of what you can do with the data:Population sizeTrends through timeCharacteristics (e.g., country of birth)Distribution and level of geographyNote: Much of this data and information are readily availableon the Census Bureau’s website (e.g., as microdata to download,as tabulated data, maps, etc.)10

11 Foreign-Born Population: 1990, 2000, and 2007 (in millions)Total population248.7281.4301.6Total foreign born19.831.138.1Foreign born as percent of total population7.911.112.6Sources: and 2000 decennial censuses, 2007 American Community Survey.11

12 Number of Foreign Born and the Foreign-Born Population as a Percent of the Total Population of the United States: 1960 to 200712

13 Percent Distribution of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth, for the United States: 1960 to 200713

14 M0501. Percent of People Who Are Foreign Born: Universe: Total population Data Set: 2007 American Community Survey 1-Year EstimatesSource: American FactFinder (http://factfinder.census.gov)14

15 Selected Population ProfilesIterations for over 100 foreign-born groupsFor nation, states, and other geographic areas that have a total population of 500,000and group population of 65,000 or moreAdditional social, economic, and demographic information on the foreign born not previously available from other ACS tables (e.g., fertility, disability, family income, poverty of individuals, etc.)15

16 Select Sources That Include Data on the Foreign Born in the United StatesPopulation and Housing Decennial CensusesAmerican Community Survey (ACS)Other Relevant Surveys16

17 Decennial Census – Quick FactsPurpose: Apportionment of House seats amongthe statesUniverse: Entire U.S. resident population(households and group quarters)Frequency: Every 10 years (since 1790)Format: Short and long forms for Census 2000 butshort form only for Census 2010Geography: National and extensive sub-national17

18 American Community Survey – Quick FactsPurpose: Provide timely data at national and extensive sub-national geography levelsUniverse: U.S. resident population(3 million housing units in sample)Frequency: Yearly estimates based on July populationGeography: Nation, state, county and, place (2005) and extensive sub-national (2008 forward)(65,000+ available now; 20,000+ in 3-year estimates available in December 2008; every geography down to block group level in 5-year estimates available in )18

19 American Community Survey – Key Migration ItemsIn addition to all of the other items on the ACS:Place of birth/nativity (not country of citizenship)U.S. citizenshipYear of naturalization (beginning in 2008 ACS)Year of entryMigration history (residence 1 year ago)Race, ethnicity (Hispanic origin), ancestryLanguage spoken at home19

20 Comparing 2007 ACS Data to Census 2000 DataGlobal differences existe.g., residency rules, universes, reference periodsFor most population and housing subjects, comparisons can be madePlace of birth, citizenship, nativity, language can be comparedYear of entry can be compared (watch reference periods)Residence 1 year ago (ACS) should not be compared to residence 5 years ago (Census 2000)“How to Use the Data”“Comparing ACS to Other Sources”20

21 ACS Margin of Errors (MOEs)MOE describes the precision of an estimate at a given level of confidenceMargin of Error = x Standard ErrorCensus Bureau’s statistical standard: 90 percent confidence levelUsers should conduct statistical testing to determine if two estimates are statistically differentThis is especially important for small population groups because of large margins of error“Data Users Handbook”21

23 Other Surveys Including Information About the Foreign BornAmerican Housing Survey (AHS)American Time Use Survey (ATUS)Current Population Survey (CPS)National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)National Prisoner Statistics (NPS)National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG)New York City Housing Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS)Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD)Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)23

25 Useful Websites with Data on Migration and the Foreign Born (continued)DHS Office of Immigration Statistics (including Yearbook of Immigration Statistics):(see the right-hand side on the Data & Statistics page at for more links)Department of State Visa Issuance Statistics:travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/statistics/statistics_1476.htmlSEVIS International Students/Exchange Visitor Data:University of Minnesota IPUMS Project (for Census and CPS data):University of Minnesota International IPUMS Project (for international data):international.ipums.org/international25